Braiding machine



Feb. 22.1927. 1,618,458

D. M GlBBON BRAIDING MACHINE Filed April 25, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet} \4 Fig.1 I

lnvenTor.

David Mac Gibbon b WW4 W Aflys. I

. Feb. 22,1927. 1,618,458

' I D. M GIBBON BRAIDING MACHINE Filed April 25, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 I s 27 2| r17 27 A'Hys.

Feb. 22, 1927.-

, 1,618,458 D. M GlBBON BRAIDING MACHINE Fil d April 25, 1923 4- Sheets-Sheet :3

lnvenTor.

David- Mac Gibbon mwmi ATTys.

Feb. i

D. Ma GlBBON BRAIDING momma- Filed April 25, 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 4' Fig.7.

Fig. 6.

7 l'nvenTor.

David MucGibbon b rwa M/(W 4 lo ,a

, ATTys.

Patented Feb. 22, 1927.

PATENT OFFICE.

DAVID MAGGIBBQN, F MANCHESTER, NEW rmlvrrsnmn.

"BBAIDING MACHINE.

Application .filed ltpril 25, 1923. Serja1Ne.-634',585.

This invention relates; to braiding machines of the type having .an upper and a-lower set .of' braiding carriers which are moved in opposite directions'together with means for sinuat-ingthe threads fronrthelower bobbin carrierto cause them tov pass over and under the upper bobbin. carriers. One of the objects of the invention is-to provide an improved simplified braiding machine which is capable of high speed operation without showing excess wear and this end is secured by making-the niach-ine with relatively few parts and particularly few moving parts. These moving parts may be made relatively light'and are all constructed to move in a circular direction. The threadsii'rom the lower bobbinqcarriers are guided at all times in their sinuating more-merit by .an unobstructed. and highly polished .sinuating' guide which passes alternately over and under the upper *bobbin carriers.

Another object of the invention is-toprovide an improved and simplified means for drivingthe braiding carriers of the upper set. I

Still further objects of the invention ar to improve generally braiding machines all as will be more'fully hereinafter set forth.

In order to give an understanding of the inventionlhave illustrated in the drawings a selected embodimentthereof which will now; be described after which the novel features will be pointed out in the appended claims.

.Il'dig. l is a plan view of'a braiding ma chine embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a partial sectional view; FigJS is a sectional viewqtaken at the point where one of the sinuating threads is passing underneath one, of the upper bobbins.

Fig. lis a View of a portion of the rack for driving the upper bobbins.

TFig. 5 is a partialsideelevation of the braiding machine.

I Fig. ,6 is a vertical sectional view with the braiding carriers omitted.

Figf't' is a side elevation with the braiding carriers omitted and with parts broken out.

Fig. '8 is a view of thecoverplate 54 which covers the gears22 that-are located above the slot aslot or space 10 through w-hichthe threads '9 from the lower bobbins pass. The section 7 has an annular formation and the meeting edges ot'-t-he two, sections are shaped so that the space or slot 10'has a sinuous shape illustrated in Figs. 1, '5 and/T, said slot- 10 passing alternately above -a'n-dbelow the track 4;

'The lower; section 8 of thef-rame is provided with a central-hub 11- which is, secured to a hollow stud 1-2 that is supported in a base 13. Theupper section 7 of the frame is supported on theupper end of a plurality of legs a or brackets 14:, l the latter being secured atthe-ir lower ends to the base '13.

Thetrack A isiformedof a shape to fit the carriers 3. as clearly indicated' in Figs. 2 and 3 and a section-of the upper wall55 of the; track is removazbleso asfto permit the carriers to be inserted therein as seen in Fig. 6.

ofbo'bbins is .rotatably mountedon the stud 12 an-dis supported by suitableball bearings 15.. This turret mayibe driven in any suitable way and is herein shown as having a bevelled gear-16 fast thereon which meshes with and is driven by a bevel-led gear lf on a driving shaft 18, the .latter being driven from the driving pulley 19. through a suit able clutch 20.

The braiding carriers 3 supporting-the upper bobbins 1 are driven from thelturret (i and for'this purpose said turret is provided with an annular rack '21 which meshes with. driving gears 22rotatably mounted on the frame 5, said gears in turn meshingv with rack teeth 23ior1ned, on the carriers 3.

Theraclrieethfiil are'iormed on one wall of a V groove in thebraiding carriers 3; as clearly shown in Fig. andthis groove is so located that the driving point of contact -The turret 6 which carriesthe lower set,

ill)

between the teeth of the gear 22 and the rack teeth 23 comes in the axial line 01'' the bobbins. By thus having the propelling force to which the bobbins are subjected applied thereto in the axial line thereof there is no tendency for the bobbins to twist and a smoother running machine is provided.

Some of the driving gears 22 are carried by the lower section 8 of the frame and others are carried by the upper section 7. All the gears are rotatably mounted on studs k and the gears which are carried by the up per section 7 are secured to the portions 25 at said sections which are below the track 4-.

The arrangement. is such that every third gear is located on the upper section 7. Since all the gears mesh with the raclc 21 the rotation 01 the turret will rotate each of the gears about its stud and these gears mesh with the tick teeth on the carriers 23 the carriers will be driven around the track --l in an opposite direction to that in which the turret (3 rotates. The space between adjacent gears 22 is slightly less than the length of each carrier 3 so that before any carrier passes out oi mesh with one gear it will be carried into mesh with the next adjacent gear and thus the carriers will be continuously driven around the track 4.

The gears 22 are shown as set into reces ses formed in the two parts 7 and 8 ol" the frame and I will preferably cover each gear by a metal cover plate 5% which closes the front. of the recesses. The cover plates :i-ji which cover the gears 22 that are located above the guiding slot 10 are shaped so that the lower edges 58 of said plates form a continuation of the slot 10. The slot 10 is so shaped that as the carriers 3 move around the track r. in one direction and the turret (l with its lower bobbin carriers 2 is rotated in the opposite direct-ion the threads 9 leading from the lower bobbins are sinuated by the slot 10 and are carried alternately over and under the bobbins 1 of the upper set thus producing the braid 26 as usual in braiding machines. The slot 10 may be of uniform width throughout as shown in Fig. or it may have a V formation as shown in Fig. 9. In the latter figure the slot is made wider at its inner face than the outer Face and this is the preferable construction, the object of which is to provide a sinuating slot which is free from any 01: struction oi the passage of the yarn. such for instance as the raised edges of the track guides -l-. Furthermore this form oi slot allows the yarn 9 to extend straight from the guiding edge of the slot to the braiding point.

The narrow edge of the slot 10 is made smooth and polished so as to afford as little friction as possible to the yarn. Each bobbin 2 of the lower set has associated therewith a spreader arm 57 provided at its end with a guide eye 33 through which the yarn extends from the lower bobbin and each lower bobbin also has associated. therewith a vertically-disposed yarn-guiding finger 28 having a guiding edge 29 over which the yarn passes. This linger 28 is situated as close as possible to the yarn-guiding slot 10 so as to prevent any lagging of the yarn between the two guides. The purpose oi? the guiding linger 28 is to deflect the yarn between the eye 33 of the spreading arm and the braiding point and to hold the yarn in tension close to the guiding edge of the sinuous slot 10 thus keeping the yarn in time with the mow-intent ol the bobbin. The spreading arm is for the purpose of giving a suilicient length oi? yarn 1) between the eye 33 and the braiding point so that the yarn may have its sinuating movement without materially changing the length otf yarn between these points.

In order to prevent the yarn ends 9 from becon'iing injured in passing between the gears 22 and rack 21 as they pass under the bobbins l I have made the rack with notches 27 opposite the points where the yarn ends 9 are delivered so that as each yarn end 9 n'loves into the lower curve of the slot .10 it will pass into the notch 27 and thus be below the gears 22 it passes under them. In this way the yarn ends 5) are carried under the gears 22 without. contact therewith and without being injured.

Each lower bobbin is provided with some suitable let-oil device which controls the tension of the yarn at all tin'ies but 1 make no claim herein to any particular let oli' construction. The device herein illustrated for this purpose conmrises a ratchet 3t) rigid wth the bobbin and apivoted springpressed pawl 31 adapted to engage the ratchet and having a guide eye 32. The yarn from the bobbin 2 extends directly to the guide eye 32 and thence to the guide eye 39 on the end of the spreader arm 57 and from the eye 33 it extends over the edge 29 oi the guiding linger 28, thence through the sinuous guiding slot 10 and then to the braiding point.

35 indicates the talce up drum on which the braid 26 is wound as fast as it is made. This take-up drum may be driven from any suitable source and I have herein shown it as rotated from the shaft 18. This drum is carried by a shaft 36 journalled in upstanding arms 37 and the shaft has fast thereon a gear 38 which meshes with a small gear 39 fast on a shalt 40 that is also journalled in said arms. The shaft 4:0 is connected by gearing GO to a sprocket wheel ll over which passes a sprocket chain 42, the latter being driven by a sprocket. wheel 43 "last on a shaft This shalt 4.4-, has a bevel gear so thereon meshing with a. bevel gear t6 on a shaft i7 and the latter shalt riers having rack teeth, a

has a worm gear 48 thereon meshing. with aworm 49 on the driving shaft 18. a

O indicatesa guide through which the braid 26;.passes as it is braided, saidguide being carried by an arm 51 secured to the up-standing arm 37. This. guide not only serves toiguide, the braid 26 but also serves to. control the position of the braiding point.

It will be noted that-this machine is designed to stand up under high speed operation and to have certain advantages over other braiding'machines of this type. Particularly it has relatively few parts and has no cams or other parts involving diihcult 'machine work'in their constuction so that 'the cost of construction is relatively low. The few moving parts may be relatively :light and run in a circular direction thus giving very little wear and making very little :noise. There is a small amount of friction involved in the operation of the machine and consequently a relatively small amount of power is necessary to operate the machine. The parts are constructed so that they are easy of access and simple to repair. p V

The combination of the vertical guide '29 land the sinuating guide 10 gives j an excellent means for sinuating the yarn from the lowerbobbins without the use of me- ;chanical devices.

By the arrangemei'it of gears herein shown wherein everythird gear is situated above theguiding groove it is possible to employ three gears only for each two bobbin carriers and, therefore, it. is possible to arrange the bobin carriers closer together than would be the case if itrequired two gears for each bobbinncarrier. r

I claim.

1. In a braiding machine, the combination with. aframe comprising upper and-lower sections and having an annular trackway, of bobbin carriers for the upper bobbins movable in said trackway, said bobbin tarrotatable turret, a set oflower bobb'ns carried by the turret, the division between the sections of the frame-being in the form of a sinuous slot having unbroken walls which form a guide for theyarn from the lower bobbins, said slot passing alternately above and below said trackway, a single'annular rack on the .t-urrct, intermediate gears journalled in the frame below the traokway, and rotatable abouthorizontal axes, saichgears meshing both with said rack and with the rack teeth on the bobbin carriers, part of said'gears being supported by the upper section of the frame and part by the lower section of the frame, said frame sections'having recesses vin which the gears are received.

2.1m a braiding machine, the combination with a frame comprisingupper andlower sectioneand having an annular trackway, of

which open into the trackway,' nalled in said recesses and meshing with the plates conforming in. shape to the bobbin carriers for the upper-bobbins movable in said trackway, said bobbin carriers having rack teeth, a rotatable turret,: a set of'lower bobbins carried by the turret, the division betweenthe sections of the. frame being in'the form of a sinuoussiot having unbroken walls which form a guide for the yarn from the lower bobbins, said slot passing alternately above and'below said trackway, a single annular rack on the turret, intermediate gears journalled in the frame be low the trackway, and'rotatable about horizontal axes, said gears meshing both with said rack and with the rack teeth'on the bobbin carriers, every third gear being sup- ,ported by the upper section of the frame and the other gears being supported by the lower section-of theframe,'said frame sections having recesses in which the gears are received. r

"1%. In a braiding: machine, the. combination with a two-section frame having on its inner face an annular groove forming a trackway, of bobbin carriers travelling in said trackw-ay andprovided with rack teeth, a rotatable turret and lower bobbins carried by the turret, an annular rack on the turret, said framehaving'recesses in-its' outer face which communicate with the trackway, gears located in said recessesand journalled in the frame, said gears meshing with said rack and also wit-h the rack teeth of the bobbin carriers, the division between the sectionsof the frame being in the form of a sinuous slot having unbroken walls which passes. alternately above and below the trackway and through which the yarn from the lower bobbins pass, partof the gears be ng located inthe upper section of the frame above the groove, and plates covering said latter gears, the lower edges of the plates extending be- .low the rack on the turret, and forming a continuation of the upper wall of said slot.

i. In a braiding machine, the combination with two-section. frame having on its inner face'an annular groove forming trackway, of bobbin carriers travelling in'saidtrackway and provided with rack teeth, a rotatable turret, lower bobbins carried thereby, an annular rack on the turret, said frame sections having recesses in their outer faces gears ourannularrack, said gears projecting into the trackway and meshing with the rack on the bobbin carriers, the division between the sections of the frame being in the form of a. sinuous slot through which the, yarn from the lower bobbins pass, said slot aass are ournalled 1n the .upper section of the frame and above the.

ing below the gears that gears journalled in the lower section of the frame, plates covering the gears in the pper the lower edge of said slot and section of the frame,

teeth functioning as a guide for the lower bobbin threads as they pass under the corresponding gears.

In a braiding machine, the combination with a two-section frame having on its inner face an annular groove forming a traclii ay, of bobbin carriers travelling in said trackway, a rotatable turret, a set of lower bobbins *arried thereby, an annular rack on the turret, said rack having yarn-receiving notches, gears journaled on the outside at the frame and meshing with the "ac-k on the turret, said frame having openings through which the gears project into the tracluvay for meshing with the r: rlt teeth on the bobbin carriers, the division between the sections of the 1 zone eonstit uting, a sinuous guide for the yarn from the lower bobbins, part of the gears being journalled in the upper section of the frame above said iguide, and plates covering the gears on the upper nertion, the lower edges oi said plates extending below the gears and corresponding in outline to th 2 adjacent portion oi said guide and tunetioning to depress the arn into the notches oi the eel: as the yarn passes under said gears.

6. In a braiding machine, the combination with a frame having on its inner 'l'aee an annular groove minstit'uting a t 'acln'ay, ol' bobbin :ariers travellii'ig in said traelcway, and provided with raelc teeth, a rotatable turret, a set oi lower bobbins carried by the turret, said t'rame being divided into upper and lower sectioi'is which are separated by a sinuous slot forming a guide for tile yarn from the lower bobbins, which slot passes alternately above and below said traeluvay, a rack on the turrehgears journalled on the frame and meshing with both said 'aelc and the ark teeth of the bobbin carriers, some of ."aid gears being situated above the lower bends oi? the sinuous guide, said rack having for each lower bobbin a notch extendingbelow the rack teeth and a vert-i al guiding linger associated with each lower bobbin to guide the yarn into the notch as said yarn passes under the gears above the guiding groove.

7. In a b aiding machine, the combination with a frame having on its inner face an annular groove constituting a trackv'ay, of bobbin carriers travelling in said trackvv'ay, and provided with "aek teeth, a rotatable turret, a set of lower bobbins carried by the turret, said frame being divided into upper and lower sections which are separated by a sinuous slot forming a guide for the yarn from the lower bobbins, which slot passes alternately above and below said trackway, a rack on the turret, gears journalled on the frame and meshing with botl said rack and the ark teeth of the bobbin "arriers, some of said gears being situated above the lower bends oi the sinuous guide, said rack having for each lower bobbin a notch extending below the rack teeth, a vertical guiding finger associated with each lower bobbin to guide the yarn into the notch as said yarn passes under the gears above the guiding groove, and a spreading arm extending radially outwardly from the turret adjacent each guiding arm, each guiding finger having an eye at its and through which the yarn from the lower bobbin is led.

o. In a b aiding machine, the combination with a t'rame having on its inner lace an annular groove .lorming a trackway, o'lj' bobbin carriers travelling in said trarlnvay, a rotatable turret, a rack on the turret, a setof lower bobbins carried by the turret, said frame romp 'ising upper and lower set'ztiona sepa rated by a sinuous slot having continuous wall and which forms a guide for the yarn lrom the lower bobbins, said .l' 'ame having recesses in its outer laoe, gears journalled in said rerease. and meshing with the rack on the turret, said reresses opening at; their upper ends into the traekway so that the upper sides of the gears project; into the trarkway, the rack teeth on the carriers being situated in a line which intersects the axial line of said carrier, whereby the driv ing tort-e of the gears is exerted on the bobbin carriers near the axial line thereof.

1). In a braiding machine, the combination will a frame having on its inner face an annular groove forming a traelm'ay, ol? bobbin "dl'l'i(t'S travelling in said trackway, a rotatable turret, a rack on the turret, a set oi lower bobbins carried by the turret, said 't'anie comprising upper and lower sections separated by a sinuous slot having continuous walls and which forms a guide for the yarn from the lower bobbins, said frame having recesses in its outer face, gears journalled in said recesses and meshing with the rack on the turret, said recesses opening at their upper ends into the tackway so that the upper sides of the gears project. into the t ackvay, ra lc teeth on the carriers tlacing (lOWl'NVtll'tlS and situated in a line which intersects the axial line of the :arrier, whereby the propelling force is delivered to said carriers in the axial line thereot.

10. In a braiding l'lltltfillll'le, the combination with a twosection frame having on the inner face thereof a groove forming an annular traelnvay, ot' bobbin carriers tavelline in said tra kwav, each carrier having rack teeth, a rotatable turret, a rack thereon, a set of lower bobbins carried by the turret, the division between the two sections of the frame being in the form ot a sinuous slot having unbroken walls which forms a guide for the yarn from the lower bobbin, said frame having recesses in its outer face, driving gears journalled in said recesses and meshing with said rack, said recesses opening into the trackway so that the driving ltlt) gears mesh with the bobbin carriers through said opening, said gears and sinuous guide being so arranged that the guide passes below every third gear and over the other gears.

11. In a braiding machine, the combination with a two-section frame having on the inner face thereof a groove forming an annular trackway, of bobbin carriers travelling in said trackway, each carrier having rack teeth, a rotatable turret, a rack thereon, a set of lower bobbins carried by the turret, the division between the two sections of the frame being in the form of a sinuous slot having unbroken walls which forms a guide for the yarn from the lower bobbins, said frame having recesses in its outer face, driving gears journalled in said recesses and meshing with said rack, said recesses opening into the trackway so that the driving gears mesh with the bobbin carriers through said opening, said gears and sinuous guide being so arranged that the guide passes below every third gear and over the other gears, there being three driving gears for each two upper bobbin carriers.

12. In a braiding machine, the co1nbination with a two-section frame having on its inner face an annular groove forming a trackway, bobbin carriers travelling in said trackway and having rack teeth, a rotatable turret, a rack thereon, a set of lower bobbins carried by the turret, the division between the sections of the frame constituting a sinuous guide for the yarn from the lower bobbins, horizontally arranged studs carried by the frame, driving gears rotatably mounted on the studs and meshing both with the rack and with the rack teeth on the bobbin carriers, said rack teeth being so located that the driving force of the gears on the rack teeth is exerted on the bobbin carriers at the axial line thereof.

13. In a braiding machine, the combination with a two-section frame having an annular trackway, of bobbin carriers movable in said trackway, a rotatable turret, a set of lower bobbins carried thereby, an annular rack on the turret, gears for driving the bobbin carriers, part of said gears being supported by each frame section, said gears meshing both with said rack and the upper bobbin, the division between the sections of a guiding groove the frame constituting having unbroken walls through which the threads from the lower bobbins pass to the braiding point, and said groove passing below the gears supported by the upper section of the frame and above the gears supported by the lower section of the frame, all of said gears being situated below and operating on the under side of the bobbin carriers.

14. In a braiding machine, the combination with a two-section frame having an annular trackway, of bobbin carriers movable in said trackway, a rotatable turret, a set of lower bobbins carried thereby, an annular rack on the turret, gears for driving the bobbin carriers, some of the gears being supported on one section of the frame and some on the other section, said gears meshing both with said rack and with the bobbin carriers, the division between the sections of the frame constituting a guiding groove having unbroken walls through which the threads from the lower bobbins pass to the braiding point and said groove passing below the gears supported by the upper section of the frame and above the gears supported by the lower section of the frame, said rack having notches to receive the threads from the lower bobbins as they pass under the gears supported by the upper section of the frame, and vertical guiding fingers secured to the turret and by which the threads are guided into the notches, all of said gears being situated below and operating on the under side of the bobbin carriers.

15. In a braiding machine, the combination with a frame formed in upper and lower sections and having an annular trackway, of bobbin carriers movable in said trackway, a rotatable turret, a lower set of bobbins carried by the turret, driving gears journalled in each section of the frame and meshing with and driving said bobbin car riers, and means to rotate the gears by the rotation of the turret, the division line between the sections of the frame forming a sinuous yarn-guiding groove having unbroken walls for sinuating the yarn from the lower bobbins, which groove passes under each gear journalled in the upper section of the frame and over each two gears journalled in the lower section of the frame, there being only three driving gears for each two bobbin carriers, all of said gears being situated below the bobbin carriers.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

' DAVID MACGIBBON. 

